Poker card game

ABSTRACT

A poker card game played with a conventional deck of cards, in which each player is dealt two “hole” cards then a third “hole” card after a round of betting. The player then discards one of his/her “hole” cards. Community cards are dealt, from which a player can combine his/her two remaining “hole” cards to create a five-card poker hand. Betting occurs during various stages of the poker card game and the winning hand collects the accrued bets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/105,784, filed Jan. 21, 2015, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a card game, in particular toa new poker game, that can be played in a live setting such as in acasino or on-line, using a computer or handheld electronic device, suchas a smartphone, tablet, or the like.

Poker has been a popular live card game and has become increasinglypopular in on-line settings. One popular game is known as “TexasHold'em,” played with a standard 52-card deck, in which players aredealt two “hole” or “pocket” cards and each player uses his/her two“hole” or “pocket” cards to create the best possible hand with a numberof “community” cards that are subsequently dealt. However, because eachplayer is only dealt two “hole” cards, the player has a limited numberof possibilities for winning hands.

Other poker games have come along such as “Pineapple” and “Tahoe” poker,in which players are dealt three hole cards. The card game in accordancewith the present invention provides a unique sequence of dealing,betting, and discarding, addressing a number of issues with previouspoker games, creating more options for the player, and resulting in anew, enjoyable game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an improved card game andmethod of playing a card game are provided. The card game has featuresin common with the game “Texas Hold'Em” but involves unique steps ofdealing, betting, and discarding of cards.

Generally, first, the dealer deals two hole cards face down to eachplayer. Then, a round of betting occurs. The dealer then deals a thirdhole card face down to each player. No betting occurs at this time.Then, each player discards any one of his or her three hole cards. Thegame continues as other Texas Hold'em games, in which three communitycards are dealt, followed by a round of betting, then a forth communitycard is dealt, followed by a round of betting, and then a fifth andfinal community card is dealt, followed but a final round of betting.The better or best hand of the remaining players is declared the winnerand wins the money collected in the pot throughout the rounds of bettingplus antes or blinds, if any.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart showing how the game is played.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning now to FIG. 1, this FIGURE shows a flow chart of how the game isgenerally played.

In the card game in accordance with the present invention, a standarddeck of 52 playing cards is used (no joker card). Each player is dealttwo “hole” or “pocket” cards face down. Then a first round of bettingoccurs. Players that fold are no longer in the hand. Next, a third“hole” card is dealt face down to each player still in the hand. Then,each player discards one of his/her “hole” cards face down into themuck, leaving each player with only two cards. Then the game proceeds asin traditional Texas Hold'em, where three community cards are dealt faceup (“the flop”) and a second round of betting occurs, a forth communitycard is dealt face up (“the turn”) and a third round of betting occurs,and a fifth community card is dealt face up (“the river”) and the finalround of betting occurs. The player at the end of the fifth round(assuming there is more than one player left in the hand) with thewinning hand wins the money bet throughout the game (“the pot”) or a“show down” occurs with the remaining players after the final bettingand the player with the wining had wins the money bet throughout thegame/“the “pot”).

This game or series of games can be played in “limit,” “no limit,” or“pot limit” type. “No limit” type means each player may bet as much ashe/she has in his/her possession. “Limit” type means that bets haveeither a maximum or minimum amount or both. For example, “pot limit”type means the amount a player can bet to the amount of money in thepot.

Initial bets may also be required. Two common ways to place theseinitial bets are antes and forced bets or “blinds.” An ante is a setamount put into the pot by every player in the game prior to the cardsbeing dealt. This amount does not count toward the bet on the firstround of betting. Antes can also be used in conjunction with blindse.g., tournament games or sessions.

Blinds are another form of pre-flop bets. Before cards are dealt, thefirst player to the left of the dealer button must put forth the “smallblind” and the second player to the left of the dealer button must putforth the “big blind.” These blind placements count toward the totalinvestment in the first round of betting. The amount of each blind ispredetermined before each hand is dealt depending on what limit or typeof game being played.

The dealer button generally moves clockwise to the left to the nextplayer after every hand or the game has been completed.

In an exemplary game, each player is dealt two cards after the blinds orantes, if any are placed. These again are called the “hole” or “pocket”cards. In an ante or no pre-flop game, the betting begins with the firstplayer to the left of the dealer button. In a blind game, the player tothe left of the big blind starts the betting round. This is the firstround of betting, known as the pre-flop betting.

After all bets are completed after the first round of betting, thedealer “burns” or “mucks” the top card off the deck (to prevent cheatingif a player happened to see the top card), then each player stillplaying in the hand (those who did not fold and forfeit his/her bet)will be dealt a third “hole” card face down. No round of betting occursat this time after the players third “hole” card is dealt. Then, eachplayer who has been dealt a third “hole” card decides which two holdcards to keep, and discards their third (unwanted or unneeded) card facedown before the flop is dealt. Each players' third (unwanted orunneeded) card is “dead,” and will go into the muck (cards that will notbe used in the rest of the game or go back into the deck).

Before the flop is dealt, the dealer can remind players still remainingin the hand (game in play) to discard their third (unwanted or unneeded)card.

The dealer will burn or muck the top card in the deck before eachplayer's third hole card is dealt. (The dealer also burns before thecommunity cards are dealt, i.e., before the “flop,” before the “turn,”and before the “river” card is dealt, again to prevent cheating in eventthat someone saw the top card.) Then three community cards are dealtface up to form the “flop”.

If a player fails to discard his/her third (unwanted or unneeded) holecard before the “flop,” his/her hand is considered a foul or a dead handand non-playable and will go into the muck. As such, the player willhave lost and forfeited his/her rights to the pot and all money bet bythat player stays in the pot. (That player can no longer play the restof that game or win.) That player's cards will go into the muck, andwill not be used in the rest of the game or go back into the deck. Also,those players who failed to discard their third “hole” card before the“flop,” i.e., has three hole cards anytime after the flop, his/her handis considered dead and will lose/forfeit all bets placed during thatgame (which stays in the pot for the winner). It is the player'sresponsibility to protect their hands and follow the rules of the gameat all times.

The winning hand is declared in a “show down” with the remaining playersafter the final round of betting occurs. The winning player or playerscan use one or both or none of his/her hold cards to make the best pokerhand. The player or players who are declared the winner wins the moneycollected in the pot throughout the rounds of betting plus antes orblinds, if any.

Below is an exemplary list of general rules in accordance with thepresent invention that may be provided as guidance during live gameplay:

General Rules

All rules and procedures that apply to the standard Hold'em poker gameincluding the movement of the dealer button, posting of blinds, cardsdealt (except the two added steps for the present poker game) collectionof table fees and jackpots collections, and determining and paying thewinners are the same as Hold'em poker game already approved by theDivision.

IT IS THE PLAYER'S RESPONSIBILTY TO PROTECT THEIR HAND AT ALL TIMES.Dealers will assist in reading hands to the best of their ability,although it is the Player's responsibility to protect his or her hand atall times. The dealer will assume that any unprotected, abandoned, ordiscarded hands are dead or have been folded. Neither the house nor thedealer can be held accountable for the Player's failure to protect theirhand. At management's discretion, a hand may be considered retrievableif needed.

Any new game employing a dealer-button will have the button positionedfor the initial deal based on a random draw high card by the player's.High card receiving the button among the player's in the new game. Afterthe deck has been shuffled and spread face down on the table by thedealer, each player will pick one card and show it face up on the table.If two or more players draw the same high card, the deal will bedetermined by suit rank listed in card value and hand rankings.

If a Player fails to discard their third hole card before the flop: thePlayer's hand is considered foul (Dead Hand) and non-playable and willgo into the muck, and will lose and forfeit all rights to the pot andall monies involved and bets placed during that hand at play and willstay in the pot.

If a Player has three hole cards anytime after the flop: the Player'shand is considered foul (Dead Hand) and non-playable and will go intothe muck, and will Lose and Forfeit all rights to the pot and all moniesinvolved and bets placed during that hand at play and will stay in thepot.

No players will communicate their cards to any players or other personsnear the table.

Once a player throws in their cards, and is in the muck, they give upthe right to play in that particular hand at play.

All disputes will be settled by a floor person or supervisor who may usesurveillance tapes to assist in any determination of the outcome of thegame.

A Player who allows substantial action to occur behind them risksforfeiting their right to initiate action on their hand, and in certaincircumstances may have their hand nullified.

The Player must declare that he/she is playing the board before theythrow their cards away to the muck. Otherwise, they relinquish allclaims to the pot.

If there is a discrepancy between a player's verbal statement and theamount put into the pot, the bet will be corrected to the verbaldeclaration.

A wager is not binding until the chips are actually released into thepot.

Dealing Rules

If a Player's hole card is flashed or exposed during the first two cardsbeing dealt due to dealer error, they may not keep the exposed card.After completing the deal, the dealer will exchange the exposed cardwith the top card on the deck and place the exposed card on top of thedeck face up. The exposed card will be used as the burn card before thethird hole cards are dealt.

If two or more Player's hole cards is flashed during the first two cardsbeing dealt or exposed due to dealer error. This is considered a“misdeal.” All cards will be returned to the dealer, reshuffled and cut.Then a new game will start and be dealt.

When dealing the Player's with their Third hole card and a Player'sthird hole card is flashed or exposed due to dealer error, they may notkeep the exposed card. After completing the deal, the dealer willexchange the exposed card with the top card on the deck and place theexposed card on top of the deck face up. The exposed card will be usedas the burn card before the flop, after all action is completed.

When dealing the Player's with their Third hole card and two or morePlayer's third hole card is flashed or exposed due to dealer error, theymay not keep the exposed card. After completing the deal, the dealerwill exchange the exposed cards with the top card on the deck to theplayer's in order. Then all Player's exposed third hole cards will bereshuffled back into the deck.

When dealing the Player's with their Third hole card and one or morePlayer's did not receive their third hole card due to dealer error, andthe next player has been dealt and already looked or seen the card, thedealer will continue dealing the rest of the active player's. Then theplayer's, who did not receive their third hole card, will be dealt fromthe next card on top of the deck in order.

A Card placed faced up in the deck (boxed card) is dead and is dealtinto the discards (muck). The next card below it in the deck replaces aboxed card. If a Joker were to appear in a deck, it would be treated asa dead card. If a Player does not call attention to the Joker amongtheir down cards before acting on their hand, then they have a dead hand(foul) and forfeit all rights to the pot and all wagers involved.

If a Player is dealt more cards than the game they are playing callsfor: and it is discovered before they act on their hand; the extra cardwill be retrieved and placed on the top of the deck as a burn card. APlayer receiving less than the required number of cards will receivecard(s) from the top of the deck. If either situation occurs after thePlayer has acted on their hand, the Player forfeits ALL antes andblinds.

If the Flop (three community cards) has too many cards, it will be takenback and reshuffled except the burn card, and will remain burned. Thedealer will not burn a card before dealing a new flop. This method isused unless there has been substantial action based on an improper card,in which case, the card the Players based their action on will stand,and the Dealer on subsequent rounds shall treat the two stuck-togethercards as a single card. If this occurs, the Dealer will not burn the topcard before dealing another round of cards.

If the Dealer prematurely turns over the flop before all the betting iscompleted, the entire flop is taken back and reshuffled except the burncard which will remain burned. The Dealer will not burn a card beforedealing out a new flop.

If the Dealer turns up the fourth card (the turn) on the board beforethe round of betting is completed, the card is not in play. After thecompletion of the betting, the next card is burned and the fifth card isput in the fourth card's place. After betting is completed, the Dealerwill reshuffle the deck including the card that was taken out of playbut not the burn card or discards. The Dealer will not burn a cardbefore dealing out the fifth card.

If the Dealer turns up the fifth card (the river) on the board beforethe round of betting is completed, the Dealer will reshuffle the deckincluding the card that was taken out of play, but not the burn cards ordiscards. The Dealer will not burn a card before dealing out the fifthcard.

Object of the Game

The object of the game is for the player's to form a five-card pokerhand that ranks higher than the other players five-card poker hands.Each player may use any combination of the two “hole cards” and the fivecards dealt on the table throughout the course of the game, referred toas “community cards” or “the board” cards, or they may play the board byusing no hole cards and using the five community cards, to make thehighest ranking five-card poker hand, according to the rankings as shownbelow.

Description of the Deck and Number of Decks Used

The game shall be played using one standard 52-card deck and no joker.

Card Values and Hand Rankings

The rank of each card used in Platinum Hold'em, in order of the highestto lowest rank, shall be: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4,3, and 2. All suits shall be considered equal in rank. However, smallissues (such as deciding who deals first) are sometimes resolved bydealing one card to each player. If two players draw cards of the samerank, one way to break the tie is to use an arbitrary hierarchy ofsuits. Clubs (lowest) followed by diamonds, hearts, and spades(highest).

The ranking of hands for the poker game, in order from highest to lowestrank:

Royal Flush: A hand that consists of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 ofthe same suit.

Straight Flush: A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit inconsecutive ranking. A King, Queen, Jack, 10 and 9 is the highestranking Straight Flush and a 5, 4, 3, 2, and Ace is the lowest ranked.

Four of a Kind: A hand that consists of four cards of the same rank.Four Aces is the highest ranked Four of a Kind and four 2's is thelowest ranked.

Full House: A hand that consists of a Three of a Kind and a Pair. ThreeAces and two Kings is the highest ranked Full House and three 2's andtwo 3's is the lowest ranked.

Flush: A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit, but that arenot in consecutive ranking. An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 9 is thehighest ranked Flush and a 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 is the lowest ranked.

Straight: A hand that consist of five cards that are in consecutiveranking, but that are not the same suit. An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and10 is the highest ranked Straight and a 5, 4, 3, 2 and Ace is the lowestranked.

Three of a Kind: A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank.Three Aces is the highest ranked Three of a Kind and three 2's is thelowest ranked.

Two Pairs: A hand that consists of two pairs. Two Aces and two Kings isthe highest ranked Two Pairs and two 3's and 2's is the lowest ranked.

One Pair: A hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. Two Acesis the highest ranked Pair and two 2's is the lowest ranked.

High Card: A hand that consists of five cards that do not make any ofthe hands listed above. An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 9 is the highestranked High Card and 7, 5, 4, 3 and 2 is the lowest ranked.

The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or everyaspect of the present invention. Particular embodiments may include one,some, or none of the listed advantages. It would also be understood thatvariations would be possible without departing from the general scope ofthe present invention.

1. A method of playing a poker card game comprising the steps of: a) dealing two hole cards face down to each player and having a round of betting; b) dealing a third hole card face down to each player and no round of betting; c) each player discarding one hole card face down; d) displaying three community cards face up and having a round of betting; e) displaying a fourth community card face up and having a round of betting; f) displaying a fifth community card face up and having a round of betting; and g) declaring as a winner the player with the best five card poker hand from among the players' two hole cards and the five community cards.
 2. A poker card game played with conventional playing cards, comprising: a) first, dealing two hole cards face down to each player and having a round of betting; b) second, dealing a third hole card face down to each player and no round of betting; c) third, each player discarding one hole card face down; d) fourth, displaying three community cards face up and having a round of betting; e) fifth, displaying a fourth community card face up and having a round of betting; f) sixth, displaying a fifth community card face up and having a round of betting; and g) seventh, declaring as a winner the player with the best five card poker hand from among the players' two hole cards and the five community cards. 